High-speed inertia-governor.



No. 769,284. PATENTED SEPT 6, 1904.

J. WILKINSON. HIGH SPEED INERTIA GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2' 1904.

8 SHEBTB8HBET 2.

NO MODEL.

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: r J. WILKINSON HIGH SPEED INERTIA GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION nun: 2, 1904. N0 MODEL. v s sums-sum s.

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 190 1.

PATENT A OFFICE...

JAMES WILKINSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILKINSON STEAM TURBINE COMPANY, OF BIRMINGHAM,v ALA- "BAMA, A CORPORATION OF'ALABAMA.

.HIGHw-SPEED lNERTlA-GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,284,11ated. September 6, 1904.

I Application filed May 2, 1904. Serial No. 205,993. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birming- .If the turbine have a large number of inde- .necting the several parts.

pendent valves whose operation in rapid succession may be desired, the governor must be capable of considerable adjustability without detriment to its sensitiveness. My present invention comprises these characteristics and is preferably embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a topv plan view of my governor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, to illustrate the manner. of mounting and con- Fig. 3 illustrates the governor-weights in their open position and a modification by which the inertia effect of the coiled spring is dispensed with. Fig.

4: is an end View of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the end of the governor-shaft, Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the toothed plate mounted on the shaft. Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the double spindle for the governorweights, showing the antifriction-rollers in a suitable raceway. Fig. 9 is avertical section through Fig. 8 and shows the grooved washer forming part of a ball-raceway. Fig. 10 is a detail view, broken away, of the sliding collar; and Figs. 11 and 12, respectively, represent longitudinal and transverse sections through the collar to show the roller-guides therefor.

shaft.

forming segmental gears 7 and 8.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout.

I have illustrated my invention applied to a shaft 1, which may form part of or be driven by the main turbine-shaft or the shaft of any type ofengine. This shaft is preferably reduced to form a portion 2, which is provided with screw-threads 3 near its inner end and at its outer end is formed with a square shank 4 and cylindrical stud 5, both integral therewith and the latter threaded at its outer end. Ac'ircular beveled cap-plate 6, having a square central opening, slips over stud5 and is forced over shank 1, which holds itv rigid with the This plate is preferably of equal diameter with the shaft 2 and of a thickness equal to the length of shank 4L and is provided on opposite sides ofits beveled face with teeth, A sleeve 9 is provided with oppositely-disposed integral arms 10 and 11, which extend at right angles therefrom and are threaded at their outer ends. The sleeve surrounds stud 5 and forms a raceway for the series of antifriction-rollers 12, interposed between it and the stud, and at its outer end is grooved at 13 to form araceway let, with a correspondingly-grooved washer 15, which is held in position by the nut 16 and jam-nut 17, mounted on the outer end of stud 5. Balls 18 are placed in the raceway 14 and relieve the friction which would otherwise 00 cur between the rotarynut l6 and the several normally stationary parts which it holds in position on the shaft. The governor-weights 19 and 20 are each provided with enlarged hollow outer ends and relatively smaller inner portions, which arerespe'ctively provided with circular lugs or ears 21 and 22. The lug 21 has a central opening in which a steel bushing 23 isinserted, which forms araceway for antifriction-rollers 2A therein and surroundinga'rm 10 of sleeve 9, to which the weight 19 is .pivotally connected. The-weight 20 is pivotally connected in a similar manner to arm11, and washers 25 and nuts 26 prevent the disengagement of the weights from their respective axes. Viewing the weights shown in their closed position, Fig. 2, it will be noted lar between flange 61 and the inner end of perthat lugs 21 and 22 are respectively provided tion 45 of the transmission-frame and dips into with segmental sets of gear-teeth 27 and 28, which are disposed on opposite sides of a horizontal plane between the faces of the weights. These gear teeth mesh, respectively, with gears 7 and 8 on cap-plate 6, which moves with the shaft-and are held firmly in engagement therewith by nut 16 and washer through the antifriction-balls 18, which engagesleeve 9. Relative movement between plate 6 and sleeve 9 will cause the weights to swing on their pivots for the purposes hereinafter described.

A nut 29 and jam-nut 29 engage the threads 3 on shaft 2, and at its outer end nut 29 is provided with an annular groove which with a corresponding groove in a washer 30 forms a raceway for antifrictionballs 31. Washer 30surrounds'shaft 2 without engaging it and forms an inner bearing for the spiral spring 32, also surrounding the shaft and at its outer end bearing against a guide-collar 33 of the main transmission-frame 34. This frame at its outer end has arms or extensions 35 provided each with lugs 36 and a semicircular groove 37. Spindles 38 pass through said pairs of lugs and are locked to bosses '39, integraljwith said lugs, by pins 40. Loose shells ,41 ar'e rotatablynnounted on antifriction-rollers 4'2, surrounding these spindles, and are disposed between lugs 36, which extend sufficiently beyond the'shells to form side guides for the curved guides 43 on the governorweights, againstwhich the frame is normally pressed by spring 32. At its inner end the transmission-frame has a ball-bearing connection with a sliding collar 44, mounted on shaft 1. This connection comprises an enlarged portion 45, integral with the bars 46, which connect to arms 35 andaredisposed without the spring 32. I insert a ball-ra'ce'47 in'po'rtion 45 and screw-thread thelatter at 48 to receive a second ball-race '49, which is locked against displacement by a screw 50 and serves to hold the race 47in position. A double cone 51 is screwed onto the outer end of sliding collar 44 and locked by a set-screw 55, and 't'wo 'sets'o'f antifrietion-balls 56 and 57 .move in the two races thus provided and take up-all the friction of rotation between the frame34 and collar '44. VVhenthe former is rotated by thegears 7, 8, 27, and- 28, collar 44'is prevented fro'mrotation by two oppositely-disposed rowsof antifrictioms'leeves 58, mounted on studs 59, screwed into the shaft 1, as shown in' Fig. 12. The collar is provided-With longitudinal grooves 60 inits inner face, in which the studs are disposed and against thesides of which the sleeves 58 bear. The'sliding collar 44 has twoannular flanges 61 and 62, between which the split'slip-collar 6'3 is mounted and provided with perforated lugs 64, by which thetwo halves are bolted together. An oil-ring 65 rides on the sliding colany suitable oil-reservoir, as 66. From this oil-receiving portion of the sliding collar oilducts 67 and 68 lead under flange 61 and supply lubricant to the slip-collar 63. Ducts 67 continue up the inner face of flange 62, as seen in Fig. 2, and ducts 68 stop short of flange'62 and connect with grooves in the inner face of flange 61, as seen in Fig. 11. The weight of ring 65 as it rotates with the sliding collar forces oil into the ducts, so that in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner I am enabled to apply a forced lubricacation to the slip-collar 63 to reduce to a minimum the friction on the antifriction-sleeves 58 and studs 59. As will be noted in Fig. 10, the supply-ports for the oil-ducts are of less width than the oil-ring, which is shown in dotted lines, and thus the oil under the ring after entering these iiilet openings will be forced to pass under flanges 61. "Stud-bearings' 69 are secured to or formed integral with the slip-collar 63, and these studs may be connected'in any suitable manner to the controller mechanism for the fluid-supply to a turbine or motor. This controller mechanism, which may be a valve or means to control the operation of valves, is adapted to admit the full supply of motor fluid when thegovernorweights are closed, as shown in Fig. Land the slip-collar shifted with collar 44 and the transmission-frame 34 to its extreme outer position. This represents its full-load position, when the speed of rotation willbe lowest. As the speed increases under a decreasing load the weights will move outwardly and shift the slip-collar, witlrthe frame 34 and collar 44, inwardly, in which positions the controller mechanismwill reduce or cut oil the supply of fluid, which will thus be automatically proportioned to the load.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified form of my invention, in which the washer 30 and a'ntifriction-balls 31 are transferred to the outer end of the'spring. Here'I provide two oppositelygroov'ed washers 70 and 71, which form a raceway for balls 72 between them. The spring 32 will then bear against the nut 29 and washer 70 and will therefore have no tendency to move or rotate with the governor parts independently of the shafts movement. In this constructionthe inertia effect of the spring is dispensed with.

In describing the operation of my inertiagovernor I will first refer to Fig. 2, in which the several parts are shown in the position they occupy before shaft 2 commences'to rotate and in which the motor-valves will be open to admita full supply of fluid-pressure. As shaft 2 commences to rotate in the direction of the arrow the segmental gears 7 and 8 will engage the gears 27 and 28 on the governor-weights, these gears being held in mesh in the manner hereinbefore described. This engagement of the gearswill act to move the shell 9, on which the Weights are pivotally mounted, around the spindle 5 and at the same time will tend to swing the weights outwardly on their axes l0 and 11. The springs 32 by pressing the antifriction-shells 41 against the weights would counteract their tendency to swing open, due to centrifugal power and to the action of the gears. Since the curved guides 43 on the governor-weights engage their side guides formed by the lugs 36 onthe transmission-frame, the latter will also be rotated. As the speed increases the weights will move outwardly on the curve a a, Fig. 4, as a result of theircombined swinging and pivotal movement, and as theymove outwardly their curved guides 43 will by engaging antifrictionrshells 41 move frame 34 'inwardlyand shift the sliding collar 44. During a constant speed there will be no relative movement between the shaft and governor parts, as they will then 'be moving together; but if the shaft speed increase or diminish the tendency of the inertia of the gov-- ernor parts will be to cause them to endeavor to continue moving at the same speed of rotation. The relative movement between the shaft and governor parts resulting from the inertia movement will take effect through thesegmental gears to swing the governorweights, and therefore shift the transmission' frame. During an increasing shaft speed the governor parts will assume a position partly due to the centrifugal motion of the weights and partly to the lag of the parts caused by their own inertia. Conversely, during a decreasing speed the inertia of the parts will cause them to take a position slightly in the lead of the normal position they would have during a continuous speed, which inertia efiiect, in addition to the centrifugal'action,adds to the go vernors sensitiveness. The effect, therefore, of an increasing shaft speed above that of the governor parts will be to swing the governorweights more widely open, and, conversely, if the shaft speed decrease the gears will act to swing toward each other; From this arrangement it follows that the governor-weights will not only move in direct response to the centrifugal power derived from the shaft rotation, but will have their delicacy of adjustment increased by the gear connection with the shaft, which actsto swing them in one or the tion which-it-is necessary for the governor to plying my invention to engines of this character I will dispensewith the gear connec tion between the shaft and the governor-' weights and will mount the pivotal bearing for the weights rigidly on the shaft.- In this arrangement the governor will respond to the centrifugal effect only of the shaft movement, but will embody the improvements in construction and arrangement hereinbefore described- I The gear connection between the governorweights and shaft maybe of any desired construction, and a link may be used to connect the governor-weights to the transmissionframe. The other features of, construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention, for which reason I do not desire to limit myself to the details of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what "I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. In aspeed-governor, thecombination with a rotatable shaft, of a centrifugal governor-weight movably connected thereto and- .adapted to rotate therewith, spring means opposing the centrifugal action of said weight, and means to directly transmit to said governor-weight movements of said shaft relatively thereto which are due to changes inthe speed of the shafts rotation.

2.,In a speed-governor, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of a spring-loaded-centrifugal governor deriving its rotary motiontherefrom, means to utilize a relative move- 'ment between the rotating partsto shift the.

governor, and a controller device shifted lon-- git'udinally by said governor.

3. In a speed-governor, the combination with arotatable shaft, of a pivoted governorl-weight adapted to be rotated by said shaft, a positive connection between said shaft and weight which effects a swinging movement of the latter when the speed of shaft rotation' changes, spring means to counteract the cen- :trifugal force of the weight, and a slip-joint between said spring means to oneof the parts against which it bears. other directlon upon each variation 1n the 4. In a speed-governor, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a centrifugal springloaded governor rotatable therewith and. comspeed changes, a controller-device moved by prising one or more weighted arms, means said governor and means to prevent-thetrans mission of the shifting movements of said arm or arms due to the inertia to said collar.

5. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft=,:

. ed to control the fluid-supply to a motor.

7 In aspeed-governonarotatable shaft, a bearingrsleeve mounted. loosely thereon, centrifugal weights. pivotally mounted on said sleeve-and: at their inner ends engaging said shaft which, by this connection, causes the sleeveto rotate with it under constant speeds ofrotationandpermits the sleeve to rock sensitive totheeffect of; its inertia under varying speeds, and means to cause said inertia movements ofsaid sleeve to swing the weights ontheir pivots.

8. In a speed-governor, the combination with atrotatable shaft,of a rotatable element,

a springrloaded centrifugal weight mounted thereon, and a: driving connection between said. shaft andelement which causes the latter to act by its momentum and that of said-springloaded: weight to shift said weight.

9. Inaspeed-governor, arotatable driving element, an 'element driven by said rotatable element and capable of movement relative thereto, a centrifugal weight connectedto said driven element, spring means to counteract the centrifugal actionv of saidfweight, and meansto cause said weight to change itsposition when arelative movement between said elements occurs due to a change in the'speedof rotation "of one of them.

10. In a speed-governor, a rotatable driving element, a driven element,a centrifugal weight connected thereto and acting by its momentum to change the relative position of said driven tosaid driving element upon alteration ofthe speed of rotation of the latter,and means tocause said movement ofthe driven element to affect the positionof the centrifugal weight. 11. In a speed-governor, arotatable driving element, an element drivenby said rotatable element, a driving connectionbetween said elements which permits of a relative movement between them, a centrifugal weight pivotally connected to said driven element and shifted by its inertia movement relative to-said other element, and acontroller device shifted by said weight.

'tory movements of said weight to controller devices.

13. In a speed-governor, a rotatable driving element, a driven element comprisinga body portion, rotatable in the same direction with 7 said drivingelement, and a centrifugal weight pivotally mounted thereon, a connection between said driving element and said weight which causes said body portion to rotate with said driving; element and has a tendency to swing said weight on its pivot, and spring meanstooppose said pivotal movement.

14:. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, a driven element comprising a rocking body and a pivoted weighted arm mounted thereon, and a driving connection between said. shaft and arm which causes said element to rotate and rocks said body when the speed of shaft rotation varies.

15. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, centrifugal weights, a support for said weights and a driving connection from said shaft which permits saidsupport to shift and adds the inertia force of the weights to their centrifugal action. and controller devices which move in correspondence with said weights.

16. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, an element rotatably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, centrifugal weights mounted on said element, and a connectionbetween said weights and the shaft by which the-inertia of the weights, upon changes in the speed of shaft rotatiomacts to shift their position.

17. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft provided with gear-teeth at one end, a driven element, a centrifugal weight pivoted to said element, a gear connected to said weight and meshing with the teeth on said shaft, and constituting the driving connection for said element, and spring means to counteract the tendency of said gears to swing the weight outwardly. I

18. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, a rocking support for centrifugal weights, a gear connection between said shaft and said centrifugal weights whichacts both to shift said weights and cause them to rotate responsive to the movement of said shaft, and spring-pressed means to oppose the outward movements of said weights.

19. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, segmental gears at its outer end, pivoted centrifugal weights, a rocking support therefor which normally rotates with said shaft, segmental gears connectedone to an end of each weight and meshing with a gear on said shaft, and spring means to oppose the tendency of said meshing gears to swing the weights outwardly.

20. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft reduced at one end to form a spindle, a sleeve mounted on said spindle and provided with one or more spindles projecting from its side,

a centrifugal weight-arm pivotally mounted on each of said latter spindles, a segmental gear on the inner end of eachweight-arm, gear-teeth carried by said shaft, meansto hold said gears in engagement and means to oppose the tendency of saidgears, while transmitting motion from the driving to the driven parts, toswing said weighted arms on their plvots. 1 g

21. In a speed-governor, a driving-shaft having a squareshank and a circular spindle at one end, a circular plate provided with gear-teeth and rigidly mounted on said shank. a driven element rotatably mounted on said spindle, centrifugal weights pivotally connected to said element and provided with seg mental gears at their inner ends, means to hold said gears. in mesh, and means to limit their meshing movement and also to oppose the resulting tendency of the weights to swing on their pivots. 22. In a speed-governor, a driving-shaft, a toothed plate mounted thereon, an element driven thereby, gear connections between said element and platewhereby the former is rotated, and pivoted rotating weights whoseinertla power acts through said gears to cooperate with their centrifugal power in swinging them on their pivots, and means to regulate the movements of the weights and transmit them to controller devices.

23. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft,

a combined centrifugaland inertia governor driven thereby, and a transmission-frame between said governor and a controller device, said frame being rotatable with and driven by said governor so that it adds its inertia effect to that of the governor.

24. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, centrifugal governor-weights driven thereby, a transmission-frame, an antifriction connecing collar, an antifriction connectionbetween said frame and collar, and a slip-collar on said sliding collar.

25. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, centrifugal governor-weights driven thereby, a curved guide on the outer side of each of said weights, a sliding transmission-frame, anti-friction-rolls at one end which engage said guides on the weights, a connection between said frame and weights whereby they rotate together, and adjustable. spring means to press said frame against said weights.

26. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft,

- centrifugal governor-weights mounted thereon, a sliding springr pressed transmissionframe which engages said weights and which 1s shifted as the welghtsmove, guides onv said frame which engage said' weights andcause the frame to rotate with them, and

tion-rollers between said guidesantifric- 27. In an engine-governor comprising a ro-" tary element having centrifugal weights mounted thereon, a driving connection be-- tween the rotary element and a moving shaft 4 fluid to the engine which shifted said weights. V r k I v 28. In an engine-governor, a rotating element, a, driving-shaft for said element [on which it is mounted, centrifugal weights mounted on said element, a driving connection between said shaft and element which rocks the latter when the speed ofshaft rotation varies, means to transmit theeffectof this rocking movement to the centrifugal inertia-weights and means shifted by said Weights which control the supply of fluid to a motor. 7

29. In an engine-governor, arotatable shaft, 7 a bearing-sleeve loosely mounted thereon, centrifugal weights pivoted to'said sleeve, a gear connection between said weights and shaft which tends to move the weights in one direction and to rotate the sleeve, and spring means to oppose the swinging movements'of thefweights effected by said gears, and means to transmit the movement of said weights to a controller device. 30. In an engineegovernor, a rotating shaft carrying segmental gears at one end, an oscillatory element mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, one or more governor weights pivotedto said elementand provided with segmental gear or gears which are engaged by the gears on said shaft and upon relative movement betweenthe shaft and said element cause the weight or weights to move I ontheir axis or axes, springepressed means to oppose the swinging movement of the weights and means totransmit the movement of the governor-weights to controller means. tlon between said weights and frame, a slid- 31. In a speed-governor, the combination with a driving-shaft and centrifugal weights,

of a support for said weights mounted's'o as to be capable of an osclllatory movement on a bearing, and connectlons between said centrifugal weights and said shaft whereby'fthe support is rotated and the weights are shifted by their own inertia when the speed ofshaft rotation changes. V

32. In a speedgovernor, a rotatable shaft, centrifugal weights rotatably mounted on an end of saidshaft, adriving connection be' i tween said shaft and weights which swingsthe latter in oneor the other direction and causes themto rotate with said shaft, and a springpressed frame; engagingsaid weights and shifted longitudinally by their opening moveits ment, and a slip-collar for connection. to the fluid-controlling means whi'c'h'islshifted. by

said frame.

- 33. In an engine-governor, a rotatable shaft,

a coiled spring p nning said frame against said weights to close Chem and adjustable antifriction-bearings for said spring mounted on said shaft, a sliding collar moved by said frame, and antifriction-bearings therefor.

34. In a Centrifugal governor, the combination of a driving-shaft, a sliding collar, means to transmit the governors motion to said collar, a longitudinal groove or grooves in the inner wall of said collar, and antifriction-rollers connected to the support for said collar and engaging the said walls of said groove or grooves for the purposes described.

35. The combination of centrifugal governor-weights which are moved by their own inertia, a sliding collar mounted on the driving-shaft for said governor, means transmitting the governors movements to said collar. antifriction-bearings between said means and collar, and antifriction -rollers mounted on said shaft and engaging longitudinal grooves in said collar to restrict it to longitudinal movement.

36. The combination with a driving-shaft of a centrifugal inertia-governor driven thereby, a collar'mounted on said shaft and actuated by said governor and antifriction devices mounted on said shaft and engaging said collar to prevent its rotation on said shaft.

37. The combination with adriving-shaft of a centrifugal inertia-governor driven thereby, a collar mounted on said shaft, a device for transmitting the governors movement to said collar, antifriction-bearings between said device and the governor and collar, a coiled spring engaging said device and tending to hold the governor in its closed position, and antifriction-bearings upon which said spring is mounted.

38. In a centrifugal speed-governor, the combination therewith of a rotatable shaft, a controller device mounted thereon and shifted by said governor, and antifriction means to restrict said device to longitudinal movement on said shaft.

39. In an inertia-governor, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a sliding collar, means'to transmit the governors motion to said collar, and antifriction means to restrict said collar to longitudinal movement upon its bearing.

40. In an inertia-governor, the combination of a rotatable shaft, inertia-shifted governor weights, a movable collar mounted thereon and adapted to operate fluid-pressure-controlling means, means to prevent the rotation of said sleeve on said shaft, and means to transmit the governors motion to said collar.

41. In a combined centrifugal and inertia governor, the combination of a governorshifted controller device, aslipjoint between said governor and said device, means to support said device and means to restrict it to longitudinal movement upon its supporting means.

42. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, centrifugal inertia governor-weights driven thereby, a sliding controller-collar, means to transmit the movement of the governorweights to said collar, and an antifriction connection between said means and collar.

43. In a combined centrifugal and inertia governor,the combination therewith of a shaft, a controller-collar mounted on said shaft, antifriction means to restrict said collar to longitudinal movement on said shaft, a fluidpressure-controlling means actuated by said collar, means to connect said collar to the governor and an antifrietion-joint between said collar and said means.

4A. In a speed-governor, a rotatable shaft, an element rotatably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, centrifugal weights mounted on said element, and a toothed-gear connection between said weights and the shaft by which the inertia of the weights, upon changes in the speed of shaft rotation, acts to shift their position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WILKINSON.

Witnesses:

H. M. HORTON, Noun: VVELsH. 

